'The Talk' Executive Producer Brad Bessey To Exit

EXCLUSIVE:The Talkexecutive producer Brad Bessey will be leaving CBS’ talk show after the end of its freshman season. Bessey had notified CBS of his plans earlier this month and shared the news with The Talk co-hosts today. Bessey launched The Talk, the first network daytime talk show to successfully premiere in nearly 10 years. Since its October debut, the show, hosted by Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete and Leah Remini, has averaged an O.K. 2.21 million viewers, a 1.0/6 rating in women 25-54 and 0.8/5 in women 18-49. Because The Talk is owned by CBS, it is already more profitable for the network than the soap it replaced, As the World Turns. It has also started to sell internationally.

Meanwhile, Bessey and his reps at WME have been approached for several projects currently in development which Bessey could not pursue if he’d reup with The Talk. So, with the show’s future secure after the pickup, Bessey opted to leave to work on other things but intends to stay on until the summer to assure a smooth transition. CBS has started looking for a replacement. Last year, CBS recruited Bessey from the company’s domestic syndication division where he spent fifteen years at Entertainment Tonight.

17 Comments

This show couldn’t possibly be worse even if they tried. He was pushed out!

TV Guy • on Mar 31, 2011 3:38 pm

Leaving after one season usually doesn’t mean you’re going on to bigger things…. We’ll see.

Kathy in St. Louis • on Apr 1, 2011 10:32 am

Cheap knockoff of The View. Creatively, a nothing show. The ladies seems pleasant enough, but really, a new idea on television wouldn’t be the worst thing that ever happened. This was not it.

Kathy • on Apr 1, 2011 12:15 pm

I like the show. The ladies are funny and I love Sharon Osborne. The View has gotten too heavy for me, I enjoy the banter between Leah and Melissa and Sharon and Holly and Julie. It makes me laugh. The View gets my angst going and I can’t stand Elizabeth.

SandiH • on Apr 3, 2011 5:41 am

I think the same as you. I used to watch “The View” all the time. Elizabeth finally got to me so I stopped watching. I find that Barbara Walters has also gotten tooooooo serious for me.
I like “The Talk”. It’s funnier and fresher.

Kent • on Apr 1, 2011 4:07 pm

The Talk would not be on TV if Julie wasn`t the wife of CBS executive. She is very average and the show does not compare to The View.

Karen • on Apr 1, 2011 6:47 pm

On today’s show the ladies opened it up by talking about their pet peeves. Sharon Osbourne made a comment about older women who wear leggings and have long blonde hair. What about older women like Sharon who have burgundy, spiked hair? Guess that’s okay.

lizabeth olevson • on Apr 2, 2011 2:47 pm

The talk is fresher, not as stale as the View,And if whoopie leaves you will have a very dull show.Sorry to say but Ms walters is responcible for its demise.Also Elizabeth is a real pain, If she was better educated maybe.You need a new program manager to fix this old mess.

Lee • on Apr 2, 2011 6:20 pm

There was only one daytime talk show in recent years worth watching – the much missed Bonnie Hunt Show.

donna casperson • on Apr 13, 2011 10:11 pm

I received tickets for tommorow and at last minute .i received a call saying i could not come tommorow to the talk.i think this is un called for,i watch and and attend the show every day i have off work! jeff cook emailed me tickets,then i get off work and i cant go tommorow! i printed my tickets and im so upset!!!!!!!!!!!!! april 14 i have tickets yet cant go!!!!

Jean • on Apr 14, 2011 5:50 pm

The Talk is entertaining, educational, timely, inspirational and always filled with humor most often at the expense of one of the hosts. I can always be sure of a good laugh. Looking forward to see what tricks Brad Bessey has up his sleeves in his next adventure.

Adrianna • on May 11, 2011 12:38 pm

I personally think that The Talk is much better than The View. The Talk co-hosts are refreshing. The banter back and forth is hysterical and most jokes are at the expense of each other, which makes it even funnier. While they state their opinions, they keep it light and don’t start fighting. The View on the other hand is a bunch of women who argue everyday. It’s annoying. They ALL have political views and they argue their points but yet none of them are in politics so what gives them the right to sit there and criticize anything? That show needs an overhaul.

Dawn Saviano-Kahn • on May 12, 2011 10:26 pm

I love the Talk much lighter & entertaining than the View, Elizabeth is annoying. I’d rather laugh than be annoyed. I work all day and tape it. Great to watch before going to sleep. Enjoyment..

dee • on Jul 14, 2011 11:35 am

I love the Talk it is definitely a much better talk show then the view. The ladies have so much fun together and understand each others point of view. They are so funny!

Margaret • on Sep 5, 2011 7:50 am

With giving the ax to two of the women and Mrs. O not coming back you do not even have a show worth putting on the air. Leah and Holly could start a show of their own and we would watch it. It would appear that Julie should stick with being a host of Big Brother where she doesn’t have to compete with women who are far more entertain than she.

Lois Rankin • on Dec 15, 2011 11:09 am

The talk sucks big time. Underwood looks like the talking horse, (remember the horse?) Her lips roll back just like a horse, and the rest of the crew as of December 2011 have no talent. The Talk is just stupid and who ever is paying for this show needs their head examined.